Maya Settlement Patterns and Land Use in Buena Vista, Cozumel, México

Preliminary Results

Microenvironmental Zones

During our survey in Buena Vista, we distinguished different microenvironmental zones common in coralline origin limestone islands like Cozumel. The geology of Cozumel is known as Karstic, with underground drainage and an irregular terrain punctuated with depressions (Davidson 1967). However, as we walked from the coast to the center of the island, we distinguished microenvironmental differences marked by terrain elevations and different types of depressions.

We distinguished seven different microzones in direct relation with distance from the coast. The first 100/150 m from the coast is a zone of narrow sandy beaches, occasionally interrupted by low cliffs and rocky areas (Figure 3, shown above). Vegetation in this zone is represented by Pantsil (Suriana maritima), Tabaquillo (Tournefortia gnaphalodes), Uva de mar (Coccoloba uvifera), and Lirio (Hymenocallis americana) (Figure 4, shown above). The ruins of one prehispanic building know by locals as "Cinco Puertas" is located in this zone. No vestiges of the wall system were seen here (Figure 5, shown below).

In the following 500 m, we distinguished two different zones, one located southeast of the site center and the other to the northeast. The former is a zone of mangrove swamps (aguadas) inundated during most of the year, but dry at the end of the dry season from March to May. Vegetation in this zone is represented by Mangle (Rhizophora mangle), Mangle Blanco (Avicennia germinanfs), Tsal Kokom (Laguncularia racemes), and Kanche (Conocarpus erectus) (Figure 6, shown above). No walls are found in this zone. The latter is a zone dominated by Tasiste palms (Acoellorraphe wrightii) reaching a height of 3 to 4 m.  Soil in this area is shallow with outcrops of limestone (Figure 7, shown below). Other plants in this zone are Chit palms (Thrinax radiata), Nopal (Opuntia stricta), and Huano (Sabal yapa). Walls in this area are formed by a single line of boulders 30 cm diameter in average up to a height of 0.75 m (Figure 8, shown below).

Next to the Tasiste zone, northeast of the site center, where the modern ranch quarter of Buena Vista is located, we found a zone of akahuales or secondary forest with low, thorny vegetation in different stages of successional growth. Outcrops of limestone are common in this area, together with sinkholes or rejolladas (2-4 m depth), caves, sartenejas (small cavities in the limestone outcrops), and huayas (small concave depressions in the limestone outcrops, 0.40-0.70 m depth). The type of soil in this zone is known as "Tzekel" because of its shallow depth (10-15 cm), rock outcrops, and abundance of limestone fragments (Figure 9, shown below).

Some common plants in this zone are Chacah (Bursera simaruba), Jabin (Piscidia piscipula), Katzin (Acacia gaumeri), Tzitzilche (Gymnopodium floribundum), and Guarumo (Cecropia peltata) that grow to 4 to 6 m in height. Under the canopy of these plants, thorny flowering shrubs are abundant. Plants and shrubs in this zone are high nectar producers. This zone extends 450-500 m west. Walls are abundant here, showing differences in shape and size. We first divided the walls in two main types. The first, simple type is built of a single dry-laid line of boulders elevated 0.50-0.75 m, and is present in the Tasiste palms zone also. The second and more complex type is built of several dry-laid lines of boulders forming massive walls 1-2 m high and 1.5-2 m wide (Figure 10, shown below).

Southeast of the site center after the mangrove zone, there is a zone of Bajos or Akalches. These are low, poorly-drained areas of red soil with abundant limestone fragments that are filled with water during the rainy season. Vegetation is short and medium-size forest 10-15 m in height with plants of Chechen (Metopium brownei), Sakboob (Coccoloba cozumelensis), Tsalam (Lysiloma latisiliquum), Siricote blanco (Cordia dodecandra), and Salche (Cassia alata) among other species. Shrubs are scarce under the canopy of this type of forest (Figure 11, shown below). Akalches extend in different directions in the form of river streams, approximately 15 to 25 m wide. Walls of the simple type described above are common in this zone, marking the limits of the akalches and crossing them side to side (Figure 12, shown below) delimiting plots.

In the proximity of the site center, we distinguished two different microzones aligned one after the other. The site center is located in the highest elevated area on the island, at approximately 10 m in height. This, however is not a single elevation, but a chain of hills 30-35 m wide at the top. This hill system runs north to south to west, forming a chain of intercalated hills and low areas of 20-30 m wide in the lower areas between hills.

Above the hills, we found black soil with fragments of limestone and spots of limestone outcrops. Vegetation on the hills is tall and medium-size rain forest 25-30 m in height, with trees of Ramon (Brosimum alicastrum), Chicozapote (Manilkara zapota), Kopo (Ficus tecolutensis), and Palo de corcho (Annona glabra) among other species. Walls in this area are of the simple and complex types. They usually delimit the borders of hills as soil retainers and other walls cross the hill from side to side delimiting plots (Figure 13, shown below).

In the low areas between hills, the vegetation consists of short and medium-size forest 10-15 m in height dominated by Katzin (Acacia gaumeri), Chaca (Bursera simaruba), Chit palm (Thrinax radiata), Flor de mayo (Schomburgkia tibicinis), and Sakyab (Gliricidia septium). Walls in this area are of the two types also. Limestone outcrops, caves, rejolladas, and cenotes are common in this zone (Figure 14, shown below). Vegetation and walls look similar to those in the akahuales zone.

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